Worth



(ModeL) I J. w. HOLDVSWORTH & J. 0. PRINGLB.

7 No. 237,866. I Patented Feb. 15,18 1;

-v W 2 WHITE-8838: I S I Q INVENTOR: 40% 42a, $5 V BY H y RNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN. W. HOLDSWORTH AND JAMES C. PRINGLE, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

SIGN.

sfi'nornrcnrron formingpart of Letters Patent No. 237,866, dated February 15, 1881.

Application filed November 26, 1880. (Model) To all whom tt may concern:

Be -it known that we, JOHN W. HOLDS- wonr'n and JAMES C. PRINGLE, of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Signs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is intended as an improvement upon that class of signs wherein the letters of the signs are illuminated by light; and the object of the invention is to give different colors to the letters of the sign, and to provide means for changing these colors.

Our invention consists in the combination, with an'illuminated sign, of movable transparent strips or wings of various colors arranged behind the letters composing the sign, as hereinafter described, and in means to move the said strips or wings so as .to change the colors of the letters of the sign, as desired.

In the drawings, Figure lrepresents, in side elevation, an illuminated sign-box embodying one form of our invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, partially in section; and Figs. 3,4, and 5 are modified forms.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The sign-board A, of wood, tin, or other suitable material, will preferably have the desired letters stenciled or cut into it, and will be attached to the frame-work B in any suitable manner.

Upon the interior of the sign-box (referring to Figs. 1 and 2) are pivoted wings or shutters 0, provided with transparent coverings of different colors--preferably tissue-paper pasted upon the frame-work of the said shutters. The shutters O are pivoted to the top and bottom of the box by means of long vertical rods, at, extending along one side of the said shutters, and resting in holes made in the top and bottom of the box for their reception. These shutters O are turned upon their axes by means of a crank, b, pivoted at cto the outside of the box, and provided with a crank-shaft, D, ex-

tending through a radial slot, d, made in the said box,the said crank-shaft being connected with the shutters by means of a connecting link or pitrnan, e, pivoted to the top of the said shutters at f.

A partial revolution of the crank-shaft carries pitmau e and shutters G in the same radial path, and causes the said shutters to alternately cover first one and then another letter, and in consequence of the various colors of the material covering the said shutters the colors of the letters are changed. This crank may be operated either by hand or by means of electricity or other motive power.

In outdoor use a small wind-wheel may be connected with'the crank in such manner as to impart to it the desired motion.

A modification of our invention consists in having an endless belt or strip, F, of transparent material, spaced with different colors, placed at the back of the letters of the sign and carried by a series of rollers,-lc, arranged as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, one of said rollers being provided with a crank by which to revolve the said roller and move the strip.

Another modification consists in having a long slide of glass, H, painted in different colors, placed behind the letters, between and guided by suitable rollers, l, the said strip being moved in and out when desired to change the colors of the letters. (See Fig. 5.)

Having thus described our invention, we claim. as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- As an improved article of manufacture, an illuminated sign made, substantially as herein shown and described, with perforated letters, having behind them aseries of movable colored transparent backgrounds, arranged and operated as set forth, whereby the colors of the sign may be rapidly changed, as described. JOHN WILLIAM HOLDSWORTH. JAMES CHALMERS PRINGLE. Witnesses:

PETER BRANDENBURGER, ROBERT PRINGLE, Jr. 

